Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 7 | 9% |
| Steering | 6 | 8% |
| Seats | 6 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 8% |
| Power train | 4 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 5% |
| Engine | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The steering started to feel intermittently difficult and then would release. It has been looked at by 2 mechanics and they report that it appears to be a structural failure of the front strut. The strut tower has sepa
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The hood will pop open while driving. There is a safety catch so it won't open all the way but it urges you to get off the road. This has happened 3 times to me already. The last time was 8/4/26.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
A vehicle was purchased at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Bentonville, AR. The sales department had a third party install a non-oem windshield. Dealer attempted repairs, but the records show discrepancies of statements and reco
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, all the air bags inside the vehicle except the steering wheel air bag, inadvertently deployed, without the vehicle being involv
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Power steering failed. It is currently at the dealership having the rack and pinion replaced.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I am reporting that the vehicle is having a constant knocking sound and weird rocking driving problem when in motion leading to pulling to one side and uneven balancing even with perfect alignment and no alignment issues
NHTSA complaint: Steering
While my wife was driving our 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee on [XXX] northbound in NY on the way with our children to school, she experienced a loss of steering as the wheel became almost impossible to turn. At the same time
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's seat lumbar system independently inflated and failed to deflate as intended. The contact
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the front seat side air bags (SAB) may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fe
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers secured the connector, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-8
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The center stack upper display (DCSD) contains a transistor that may overheat and prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers replaced the DCSD, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been repaired. Owner notification letters were mailed February 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-85
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
Risk: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the rear coil spring assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 12, 2026. Additiona
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving.
Risk: Rear coil springs that detach from the vehicle while driving increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear coil spring lower isolators, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed September 29, 2026. Additional l
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 71 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and unknown or other is the most reported area with 7 of them (9%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.